Beverage Options in Amenity Design: Creating Connection Through Choice

When residents walk into a multifamily community, the amenities often set the tone. Fitness centers and coworking lounges may top the list, but beverage offerings are quickly becoming a defining feature of modern amenity strategy. A thoughtfully curated beverage program does more than serve drinks — it builds community, supports wellness, and reinforces a property’s brand identity.

At Silver Studio, we’ve been speaking with leaders in this space, evaluating systems that range from beer walls to sparkling water dispensers. Here’s a look at what we’ve learned:

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Coffee, cold brew, beer, and wine can all be attractive amenities, but they come with real costs — both financial and operational. Our advice: be intentional. You don’t need to offer every beverage option to stand out. Instead, curate offerings that align with your property’s brand and the lifestyle of your residents. A well-chosen beverage amenity not only enhances the resident experience but also tells a story about your community — one that resonates with your market and reinforces your identity.

As an example, imagine a sports-themed tavern within a multifamily community. The space might feature a couple of beer taps, multiple TVs, comfortable lounge seating, and game tables. Adding self-serve beer taps from providers like Table Tap (https://thetabletap.com) or Pour My Beer (https://pourmybeer.com/) gives the amenity real purpose — creating the kind of environment that saves residents a trip offsite to watch the game.

• Installation Costs: Expect to invest between $16,000–$35,000 for 2–6 taps, depending on system type and configuration.
• Software Fees: Ongoing licensing and support typically run $130–$200/month.
• Maintenance: Professional line cleaning and servicing adds another $100–200/month.
• Beverage Budget: Properties should plan on $500–$700/month for kegs (beer, wine, or cold brew).

Most operators mitigate risk by limiting the ounces each resident can pour daily and tying access to an RFID card issued after ID verification. Property managers we’ve spoken with consistently describe this as a high-value amenity that residents appreciate and actively use — but they are quick to note that it comes with a significant ongoing cost.

Another option is a sophisticated wine tasting room, designed with cozy booths, warm brick, and wood accents. This type of amenity can be supported by a wine tap system along with resident storage solutions such as Vigilant Wine Lockers (https://vigilantinc.com/), which are available in banks of 24, 36, or 48 units and can be ordered in conditioned or non-conditioned formats.

Rough pricing for the lockers may run around $25,000–$30,000 for 24 conditioned lockers, with additional costs for finish upgrades, lighting, or expanded locker banks. The key benefit of this model is that lockers can be rented to residents for a small monthly fee, creating an opportunity to offset costs while offering a premium experience.

The theme can be enhanced through community wine tasting events, ideally in collaboration with a neighborhood wine shop. These gatherings not only create a distinctive resident experience but also build stronger ties with the surrounding community — turning the tasting room into both a lifestyle amenity and a social hub.

If the beer-tap or wine-locker price tag gives you pause, a more cost-conscious yet elegant alternative is the Bevi beverage system (https://bevi.co/). Basic countertop-model Bevi units start at around $2,500, while fully featured units like the Bevi One or Standup 2.0 range between $3,000–$6,500 .

Picture a serene wellness lounge featuring a zero-gravity massage chair paired with ambient music. The Bevi system, with its light and fresh beverage options, acts as the tasteful beverage accent to this tranquil space — offering residents hydration and relaxation in one beautifully curated experience.

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In the end, beverage amenities are about more than what’s being poured — they’re about the experience that surrounds it. Whether it’s a lively sports lounge anchored by beer taps, a refined wine-tasting room with resident lockers, or a wellness space elevated by a Bevi hydration station, the right beverage offering can become a memorable extension of a community’s brand.

The key is to balance aspiration with intention. Not every property needs every option; the most successful strategies are those that align with resident lifestyles, reinforce the identity of the development, and deliver value without overextending operational budgets.

At Silver Studio, we believe that the best amenities are the ones that feel authentic — designed not just to impress, but to connect. Beverage programs, thoughtfully curated, can do just that: foster community, support wellness, and create spaces residents are proud to call home.